Silo apparatus



N. CORDIS Aug. l5, 1950 SILO APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July l, 1947' lllllllll Invenor Naf/Cardia 2M@ ./au? y y /IH' r/ney Aug. l5, 1950 N. coRDls 2,518,601

SILO APPARATUS Filed July 1, 1947 v3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invenor' Na Co rdfs N. CORDIS SILOy APPARATUS Aug. l5, 1950 Filed July 1, 1947 3 *Sheets-Sheet 3 Naf Cord/'s By 77 Afm-2j Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT` OFFICE SILo APPARATUS i Nat Corsis, Bassett, Wis. Application July 1,1947, SerialNn. '158,412

l6 Claims.

,This invention relates generally to Silo Vapparatus, and more particularly to a Silage dispenser which is also suitable for use in my novel method of lling a silo. Apparatus of the general type to which this invention relates generally comprises a frame member having mounted thereon gathering means, such as rotating Scrapers, which are suitably curved and arranged to engage the topmost layer of the Silage Aor other livestock feed that is stored in a silo and gather it together,

and a suitable conveying means, such as a bucket conveyor or a screw conveyor, whereby the gathered feed is picked up and discharged outside of the silo. pensers of this general type that the frame member be suspended within the silo by cables. In some, provision is made for automatically lowering the frame member within the silo as the silage is removed thus providing an automaticfeedfor the Scrapers. In the devi-ces that are now known, the silage to be removed by the conveyor is accumulated in a pile by the Scrapers, which usually results in an ineicient loading of the conveyor means. Furthermore, in these prior devices, there is a tendency on the part of the whole frame member and its rotating Scrapers to cant Within the Silo in spite of provision of guide arms which usually serve only to keep the dispenser centered.

This canting in turn causesl the Scrapers to dig deeper on one side than the other, thus accentuating the difculty.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved silo apparatus wherein a more emcient loading of the conveyor means; which cooperates with the Scrapers, is obtained. It isa further object of this invention to provide an improved apparatuswhich is not necessarily supported by cables and in which an improved control of the feeding of the Scrapers to the' packed silage is obtained.

In addition to the aforesaid objects, it is a further object of this invention to provide a novel method of loading a silo and particularly to provide a dispenser which can be operated to facilitate loading according to my improved method. It is essential in loading a silo, particu-V It has been customary in diS- I' mil tion will be apparent from the following description of my invention.

In general, my improved apparatus is provided With a plurality of rotating support members, or rollers, which are attached to a frame member and ride upon the bed of silage in the silo. Scrapers are adjustably associated with the rollers so as to dig into the bed a predetermined depth with respect to the rollers upon rotation about the frame member'. Though I preferv to also partially support my ydispenser with the customary cables, I may in Some cases dispense with the Same.

Where, however, my novel combination oef cables and rollers is particularly important is in` practicingl my improved .loading method. Here,

b-y reversing the rotation oi my improved dis-Vv penser, I obtain the benet of the Scrapers as dis-- tributing means and of the rollers as packing means. Though I have found that as the silo fills up, the apparatus Without the cables will ride on topoi the silage, I prefer to raise the entire apparatus :by meansof the cables at a rate l controlledby. the number .of revolutions of thei Scrapers.

,To obtain more eflicient is filled to capacity. In this connection, Since a portion of my apparatus is below the scraper, I Y

provide means adjacent the'bottom end of the `conveyor which breaks up and agitates the feed, thus permit the conveyor, in effect, to dig a cavity for itself.

The above features of .my improved apparatusV indicate like parts inthe various figures and wherein Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a silo having mounted rktherein my improved Silo apparatus shown in plane view with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is avertical section of the lsilo, show-V inga side elevationrof my improved apparatus. A Figure 3 is a vertical section through the con- I' veyorof the silo apparatus.

Referring nowto the gures, silo l, in which is Stored Silage 21, is equipped with my silo apparatus 3. It comprises a tubular frame member ll on, which is lrotatably mounted-a collar 5 extending l,

loadingl ofthe conveyor which removes, the material gathered by. the Scrapers, I dispose the loading end of the.A conveyor at a point below the horizontal plane', of the Scrapers. vInthis way, the feed or silage is dumped down into the conveyor insuring that it from which are radial arms Ii upon which are rotatably mounted drums l. The drums are generally frustro-conically shaped so that they will tracl; in a circle on the bed of silage. Carried by adjacent pairs of radial arms 6 by hangers 'Ia are Scrapers d. The Scrapers 8 are suitably curved and may be tapered in width in a well-known manner so that upon rotation of the collar material scraped up willmove toward thecenter of the silo. The relative/verticalposition off the Scrapers with respect to the arms 6 can be adjusted by securing the hangers la in one of vario-urI vertical positions. At each end of arms 5 is a roller 6a for engaging the walls of the silo.

Also secured to the tubular frame member 4, is a conveyor 9 which preferably is of a conventional chain and paddle type comprising fa trough ID supported on the frame member and extending outwardly through the silo door I I to a point outside the silo, and a pair of endless chains I2 and I3 havingise'cur-ed therebetweenvpaddles I4. The conveyor not only extends the `length of the trough but also turns andfpa'sses vertically down through the inside of `the tubular -frame member 4. 'An-extension at t-he'bottomof the trough .ILS is ,provided within the ltubular -frame member to 'cooperatewith the -paddles to permit material to vbe raised vertically from 'the'base of the frame member to the bottom 'of the trough, and thu-s alon'g'the trough to the -outsideof -the silo. rSuitable journaied-axles Iii-and -Iland pairs of sprockets 1"8 'and I'Il are provided at the bottom end of the frame member and at the far end ofthe "trough for supporting'the chains I2 and VI3 which are driven "by a -pair of drivingsprockets `mounted on 'axle 2| journaled inthe Trame member. An idler 22 is provided to support the und'ersideof the chains.

To one end ofthe axle 21 issecureda sprocket 23 .suitably connected by a chain Y24 'toa conventional 'tr'ansmission 25 which *is turn connected to apow'er source such asnro'tor '26 kby belt drive 2l. 4The motor Vis mounted on the'rame'member 4 'by a suitable "bracket Eiland vthe transmission by bracket 29.

The motor and 'transmission provide the 4power for .operating the conveyor andialso for rotating the collar '5 and hence 'the drums 1 and Scrapers 8 through a suitable chainfandgear drive 30 as shown `coupling the collar 5 and the 'transmission 125.

To assist in stabilizing .the entire apparatus, guide arms 3l., which are secured to a collar32 (ig. .1) fixed ena frame member 4 lby screws 33,*are provided which .extend outwardly andengage the walls of the silo at equally spacedpoints. At .the .ends of .the .guide arms may be 4provided Wheels 323.01* otheris'hoemembers which are preferably resiliently urged to Contact wIiththe walls of -thesilo .'Ifhe collar-Balhaslthe additional function of cooperating with a ,peripheral flange 35 welded or other-wise `fastened yto the -frame Vmember 4 to secure the collar 5 from vertical movement on the frame member.

For purposes hereinafter morejfully set forth, there is .further mounted tothe frame member 'A a winch 3B `(Fig. 2) by-means :of .suitable bracket 31 upon which -is wound cablef38 which is rigidlysecured to the bracket fat-.31 and r,passes over a pulley at the top of the .silo r(not Shown). I prefer to provide :for cooperation with 'the winch, anidler l4i! aroundw'hich the cable Ypasses once, which idler is also .rotatably *mounted on :the bracket' l. ThelidlerY serves thepurpose 'of ymaintaining uniform vertical #spacing between V"the and'scr'apers.V

points at which the cable supports the dispensing apparatus, whereas I have found by operating without the idler there is a tendency for the shifting of the cable along the winch to cause a rocking action in the dispensing apparatus.

The winch is driven by motor 25 through a gear 4i and suitable transmission 42 connected to the motor by a belt drive 63. The power for the motoris provided by a power line 44 which passes up over a vsuitable pulley at the top of the silo (not shown) and is connected on the outside of the silo at the base thereof to a suitable power outlet and switch arrangement 45. The switch is .preferably of a conventional three way type, that is, providing for the reversible operation of vthe motoras well as stopping and starting of the rector. To take up the slack of the power line between the switch and the moving apparatus, I `provide means such as a drop box 46 in which the cable coils itself. A conventional spring loaded reel may also be used. 'Io vobtain automatic stopping of `the apparatus after a predetermined amount of silage Avhas been unloaded, I 'provide a 4suitable 'mechanism comprising a cord IIJ-I which isastened at one end of the iapparatus and passes over a suitable pulley at the top of the Vsilo y(not shown) vand down along the youtside ofthe silo to a position cooperating with the switch box-4E. AA suitable `drop box 48 is provided for the cordld. At the switch box, I provide on the cord an adjustable ring l4E@ which is adapted to engage a-'trigger 55! ofthe switch mechanism 'for th-e purpose of shutting cfr" the motor.

Referring now to the operation of my apparatus, an operator outside the silo sets the adjustable Yring49 on'th'e rope '45 the distance from the trigger v5t equal to the number of inches of silage he wishes to remove. He 'then manually operates the switch to Istart 'themotor in a direction which vcauses 4the scrapers 8 to rotate and gather silage `towards the center ofthe silo. Simultaneously with the operation of the Scrapers, 'the paddles f4 `of the conveyor -9 pass downwardly throughthe vtubular Vframe ymember to a point below the Scrapers andupontheir upward travel the silage a'ccumulated by the Scrapers is dumped down upon them insuring their maximum loading and fis carried upwardly and outwardly through the `trough IG and -is discharged outside of the silo in a downspout 5i. vThebase'of the frame member is suitably out away at 52 to permit access of the paddles to the accumulated silage. To insure the breaking up of the silage in the vicinity of the paddles, which is an area where the Y-scrapers cannot function, I provide a pairof spi-ke wheels 53 whichfare mounted on the axle :It of the conveyor. By breaking-up the silage 'at this point, I prevent overloading of the conveyor, and I also prevent the frame member from bottomingon the silage bed ina manner to prevent 'the necessary downward `vertical movement required for'the continual engagement of the Scrapers ywith the'bed.

silage is removed, the rollers 'I which ride on 'the `bed will continually permit the apparatus to Amove downwardly. The maximum rate of downward movement, however, is limited by the speed vat lwhich the cable 38 is fed out by the winch 36. 'Sincefthe winch 36 and the rollers 1 are driven by the motor there is necessarily a fixed rratio Abetween therate at which the apparatus'fis permitted to -move downwardly by the cable and the number of revolutions of the rollers This ratio may be adjusted :within asiaeoi limits by providing a conventional adjustable gear reduction mechanism with the transmission 42.

When the apparatus has delivered the desired number of inches of feed or silage as determined by the setting of the adjustable ring 49, the motor -pack down the silage, thus avoiding any air holes which may result in spoilage. Because the distribution effected by the Scrapers in reverse direction is not always uniform, since their vprime function is to serve as gathering means, I have found that reliance upon the rollers alone to raise the dispensing apparatus within the silo as it lls up sometimes results in canting of the apparatus. This canting is overcome in the preferred form as shown by the fact that the dispensing apparatus is raised through the operation of the winch and the cable at a predetermined rate independently of the rate at which the silo lls up, and hence any tendency to cant can be immediately corrected by cutting ofl the blower for a period suicient to permit the cable to suspend the apparatus within the silo in its 1 customary vertical plane to which vit is biased by the guide arms 3|. This reverse operation of my apparatus effects a novel method of loading a silo since the distributing and packing are automatically handled without the necessity ofhaving any workers Within the silo.

I have described a preferred embodiment of my apparatus, and I appreciate that various other embodiments and modications ywill occur to those skilled in the art; consequently no limitations are intended hereby, except as are contained in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A silo apparatus for loading and unloading a silo comprising a central tubular frame member, a collar rotatably mounted on said frame member, means for restricting axial movement of said collar, radial arms mounted on said collar extending to the walls of the silo, frustroconical drums rotatably carried on said arms and adapted to roll on the bed of material in said silo, a plurality of curved scraper elements` carried on said arms, said Scrapers and rollers adapted to move in horizontal planes above the bottom end of said tubular frame member, a trough carried by said frame member and extending therefrom to a point` outside the silo through an opening therein, an endless chain and paddle conveyor, one end of which is located at the base of said frame member and the other end of which is located at the end of the trough outside of the silo, said chain and paddles being adapted to move through the tubular frame member and over and under the trough in cooperative relation therewith, agitating means mounted on the bottom of said frame member adapted to be driven by said conveyor for agitating and breaking up silage, a Winch carried by said frame member, a cable secured at one end of said frame member and at the other end of said winch, an

idler carried in'cooperative relationship to said 6.. member, a reversible motor carried by said frame member, means coupling said motor with said collar for rotating the same, means coupling said motor with said chain conveyor for driving the same at a rate proportional to the rate of rotation of said collar and means coupling said motor to said winch for operating the same at a rate proportional to the rate of rotation of said collar, switching means outside the silo operably connected to said motor for effecting stopping,

starting and reversing of said motor, and automatic stopping means associated with said switching means, said automatic stopping means comprising a cord connected to said frame member and passing outside said silo adjacent said switching means and a ring secured to said cord, said ring being adjustable thereon, said ring! being adapted to engage said switching means upon a predetermined vertical downward movement of said frame member.

2. A silo apparatus for loading and unloadingV a silo comprising a central tubular frame member, a collar rotatably mounted on said ,frame member, means for restricting axial movement of said collar, radial arms mounted on said col-v' lar extending to the walls of the silo, frustreconical drums rotatably carried on said arms and adapted to roll on the bed of material in said silo, a plurality of curved scraper elements carried on said arms and vertically adjustable relative thereto, said scrapers and roller adapted to move in horizontal planes above the bottom end of said tubular frame member, a troughy carried by said frame member and extending therefrom to a point outside the silo through an opening therein, an endless chain and paddle conveyor, one end of which is located at the base of said frame member and the other end of which is located at the end of the trough outside of the silo, said chain and paddles bethe other end of said Winch, an idler carried in y cooperative relationship to said winch for maintaining the cable against horizontal movement with respect to said frame member, a reversible motor carried by said frame member, means coupling said motor with said collar for rotating the same, means coupling said motor with said chain conveyor for driving the Vsame at a rate proportional to the rate of rotation of said collar and means coupling said motor to said winch for operating the same at a rate proportional to the rate of rotation ofV said collar, and switching means outside the silo operably connected to said motor for effecting stopping, starting and V reversing of said motor.

3. A silo apparatus for loading and unloading a silo comprising a central tubular frame member,` a collar rotatably mounted on said frame member, means for restricting axial :movement of said collar, radial arms mounted on said collar extending to the walls of the silo, frustro-conicalY drums rotatably carried on said arms and adapted to roll on the bed of material in said silo, a plurality of curved scraper elements carried on said varms and vertically adjustable relative thereto, said Scrapers and rollers adapted to move in horizontal planes above the bottom end of said tubular frame member, a trough carried by said aspra-.soi

frame member and extending therefrom to a pointr outside the silo throughV an opening there-` in; an endless chain and paddle conveyor, one end of which isl located at the base of said frame member and the other' end' of which is located at the end of the trough outside of the silo, said chain and paddles being adapted to move through the tubular frame member and over and under the trough member in cooperative relation therewith, a winch carried by Said frame mem-- ber a cable secu-red at one end of said frame member and at the other endV of saicl Winch, an idle-i1 carried in' cooperative relationship to said Winch for maintaining the cable against horizontal movement with respect to said frame member,Y a reversi-ble motor carried by said frame member, means .coupling Saidmotor with Said collar for rota-tingl the same, means coupling sai'd motor with said chain'- conveyor for driving the same at a rate proportional to the rate of rotationof-v said collar and means coupling said motor to said winch for operatingthe Same at a rate proportional to the rate of rotation of saidcollarf andA switching` means outside the Silo-'operably connected to said motor for eiecting stopping, startingand reversing of said motor.

4. A silo apparatusv for loadingI and unloading a silo comprising a central tubular frame mem ber, a collar rotatably mounted on1v said frame member, means for restricting axial movement of said collar, radial arms' mounted on said collar extending to the walls of the silo, frustraconical drumsv rotatably carried on: said armsA and adapted. to roll' on the bed of material in said silo, a plurality of curved scraper elements carB ried on said arms, said scrapers and rollers. adapted` tof move in: horizontal planes above the bottom end of said tubular frame member, a trough carried bysaid frame member and ex tending therefrom to a point outside the silothrough an opening therein, an endless chai-n and paddle-conveyor, one-end of whichis locatedat the baseof said frame member and the other end of which isl-ocated at the endlof the trough outside' of the silo, said' chain and paddles being adapted to move through the tubular frame. member and over and under the trough incooperative relation therewith, a winch carriedb-y Said frame memben. a cable secured at one end of Said frame member and at thel other end` of said winch,` an idler carried in cooperative relationship tol Said'- Winch for maintaining the cable againstY horie zontalmovement with respect to said-frame member,. al reversible motor carried by said frame member,means-coupling said motor with Said1collar for rotating the Same, means coupling said same at av rate proportional to therate of rotation-v of said collar and means coupling said motor to said Winch for operating the same at a rate pro'u portional to the rate of rotation of said collan, switching means outside the silo operably connected to said motor for eecting stopping, starting and reversing of said motor., and automatic stopping means associatedY with said switching means, Said automatic stopping meansl comprising` a cord connected to said frame member` andl passing outside said Silo adjacent said switching means and` a ring secured to said cord, Said ring being ,adjustable thereon, said ring being adapted to engage said switching means upon a predetermined vertical downwardV movement of Said frame-member. p

5. A Siloapparatus for loading and unloading a silo comprising a central tubular frame mem ber of SubstantialE diameter, radial arms rott^ ably carried by said' tubular frame member and' extending to the walls of the silo, a frustro-coni-- cal dru'm rotatably xed'abou't each of Said arms near the'ou'ter ends thereof, a plurality of curved: scraper elements rotatablyr carried by Saidtubularl framel and supportedY at their outer ends byv S'ai'div arms, said Scrapers and rollers being adapted' td-A move in unison: about said tubular frame member a horizontal plane spaced upwardly fxorn''tl1e'r lower limit of said tubular frame memlber, atrough carried by an upper part of Said framev member and extending therefromy to a point outside the Silo' through an opening therein, a series' of sprockets disposed' within the lower end of said! frame' member below Said arms and scrapers',a the* junction of said trough and tubular` framemember, and at the outer' end of said' trough, an: endless chainl and' paddle conveyor passing', over" Said sprockets, whereby said' chain and' paddles move through the tubular frame member and over and under the trough member, rnexans'-A in'= cluding a winch for suspending. said' tubular frame member within said silo to' permit verticali' movement of the same, power means includinga motor for rotating Said' Scrapers about saidf tubular frame, coupling means' for driving' said' endl# less chainconveyor at a rate proportional' tothe rate' of rotation of said arms, a second coupling means for moving said tubular frame member.v longitudinally within the silo through s'aidwinch at a rate proportionalA to the rate of rotation of said Scrapers, and Switching means outside'- the Silo operably connected tesa-id motor.

6. An apparatus for' use in a silov comprising eg? central tubular conveyorv frame, ai laterally` ein tending. conveyor trough' extending! between the upper endl of said' tubular conveyor frame' and the1 silo wall, anl endless. chain and paddle conveyor operating Within sa'id tubular frame and over and under said trough, a rotatable collar about? said tubular frame, radial arms rotatably carried by said collar' about said' tubular iframe; and'l a plurality of curved scraper elements i'xed to Sad'- collar and supported at their outer ends by said' arms, said Scrapers being adapted to move about said` tubular frame in a horizontal plane above the lower limit of travel of said paddles, a Shaft and' sprocket below' said Scrapers within saidtu'i bular` frame over which said endlesscliain passes",- and cutters Xed t'o said shaft outside of S'aid'tu-I bular frame adapted to cut a well in the sil'o Sldsto accornmodateV the lower end of the tub'li lar `frameand provide a bite for saidscrapers andi paddles..

NAT CORDIS.

NGE S CETED The following references are of record in the lel of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,233,808 Burgess July 1719137 1,479,990 Keys Jan. 8, 1.924 1,550,311 Foster Aug. 1'8, 1925 1,740,250 Kutz, Sr. et al. Dec. 17,1929 2,277,879 Ness et al Y Mar.Y 31, 1942`` 2,445,056 Cordis July 13, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 110,384 Germany May 10, 1900 

